INTERACTIVE METRONOME®
Advanced Training for Physical Rehabilitation and Neurological and Motor Rehabilitation

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Introduction

Patients at New England Rehab Hospital who suffer from neurological and motor impairments have renewed hope for a strong recovery thanks to a new therapy technology called Interactive Metronome® (IM). The Interactive Metronome is a brain-based rehabilitation assessment and training program developed to directly improve the processing abilities that affect attention, motor planning and sequencing. This in turn, strengthens motor skills, including mobility and gross motor function, and many fundamental cognitive capacities such as planning, organizing and language.

Features

The Interactive Metronome program provides a structured, goal-oriented training process that challenges the patient to precisely match a computer generated beat. Participants are instructed to synchronize various hand and foot exercises to a reference tone heard through headphones. The patient attempts to match the rhythmic beat with repetitive motor actions such as tapping his or her toes on a floor sensor mat or hand clapping while wearing an IM glove with palm trigger. A patented audio and visual guidance systems provides immediate feedback. The difference between the patient's performance and the computer-generated beat is measured in milliseconds and a score is provided. A low score indicates better accuracy and timing.

Patient Success Stories

Indications

• Motor planning and sequencing problems
• Speech and language delays
• Motor and sensory disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Cognitive and physical difficulties from:
  • Brain Injury
  • Stroke (cerebral vascular accident)
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Amputee
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Balance Disorders
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Decline in Function

Speech Language Pathologists Tom McOsker and Sheila Lloyd guide patient Cynthia Varmecky through a series of activities using the Interactive Metronome®.